In which there are explanations, enjoy!
Replies:
Juras Dss: I guess I don't mind as long as you give credit.
Ryan Fowler: Silly reader, Carter won't waste time screaming he'd already be running.
The Official Clarisse: Amos loves his family- I wonder if you can remember what happens in the books though. And she is, slowly, it takes time.
Seaweedbrain760: Why thank you.
Guest: There's so much in your review there's no way I can address everything- sorry! But to address some points- the explanation is coming soon so you shall see, the Kane chronicles will be over for a while before the PJO plotline starts, and with Bast- as a cat Percy doesn't care so much because Bast doesn't do anything that interesting to her- when she takes on a more human form though Percy's just like 'So cool!'
Perlianca: I've counted votes for both Perlianca and Perlia.
Guest: You'll have to wait and see, but everything will be explained sooner or later I promise. I have lots of plans.
Sammy: Thank you, I've counted your vote.
Jake: Thank you! Your vote's been counted.
Batman: Your vote's been counted.
Katie: Thank you! I'm glad you like it, and I've counted your vote
Guest: I have counted your vote.
Guest: I haven't decided how many minifics I'll do- but there will be some fun Percy and Sadie stuff.
Guest: No we won't, sorry but I don't think I'd be able to write that so well, so I'm focusing on my central plotline.
Poll
Pipercabeth: 25
Percy/Apollo: 19
Perlia: 9
Percabeth: 7
Percy/Bianca: 6
Perlianca: 6
Pereynabeth: 5
Pipercy: 5
Pereyna: 3
Perachelbeth: 2
Pereylia: 2
Perlissse: 1
Pereyna: 1
Percy/Ares: 1
Perachel: 0
Other: (Say who)
It was about half an hour later that Carter came and joined them- in which time Percy had met Amos' crocodile- Philip of Macedonia- and she'd eaten enough pancakes to feed a small army.
It was Amos who spotted him first, straightening slightly in his seat-and Percy turned her head, a smile splitting her face as she saw her big brother- he was clad in the same style clothing as Percy and Sadie, and Muffin was winding around his feet- almost herding him along to join them-the sight made Percy want to giggle- knowing just what the cat really was.
"Ah, Carter." Amos gave a warm smile, "Merry Christmas my boy. Come and join us- before your sister steals all of the pancakes-"
"How can someone so tiny even eat so much?" Sadie's voice was incredulous, and Percy gave a toothy grin.
"Mommy says it's my met-" She paused, "Met-" she turned her head to look at Carter.
"Metabolism. I don't get it either." Carter grabbed the chair next to Percy, pulling it out and sitting down next to her. "She's always been able to eat like, crazy amounts."
"Percy likely burns it off faster than most people." Amos' voice was thoughtful as he glanced at Percy, "I admit I don't know for sure. It would be interesting to look into it more-"
"Right-" Carter blinked, "Sure uh- by the way did you have any pet birds? Because Khufu's eating something with pink feathers."
"Mmm." Amos sipped his coffee. "Sorry if that disturbed you. Khufu's very picky. He only eats foods that end in -o. Doritos, burritos, flamingos."
"Did you just-"
"Carter-" Sadie's voice held a note of warning, "Don't ask-"
"Does he like cheerio's?" Percy asked curiously, "I like cheerio's but mom says they're not very healthy-"
"You'll have to offer him some." Amos' expression was almost indulgent and Percy grinned.
"Great!"
"Yes. And now, Carter, help yourself to food and then we can get started on explanations." his eyes flicked to Percy. "Your sister knows all of this already I believe so she can help me explain."
"Okay uncle Amos." Percy nodded seriously- she'd help them even if it was hard to understand.
"Wonderful." Amos nodded, "Well, where to-"
"Is that-" Carter yelped the words-and Percy followed his gaze and grinned.
"That's Philip of Macedonia."
"He's an albino crocodile." Amos added, "But but please don't mention that. He's sensitive."
"That-" Carter blinked rapidly, "Is a long name."
"He's a long crocodile," Sadie said. "Oh, and he likes bacon."
To prove her point, she tossed a piece of bacon over her shoulder. Philip lunged out of the water and snapped up the treat. His hide was pure white and his eyes were pink.
His mouth was so big, he could've snapped up an entire pig. Percy couldn't blame Carter for almost flinching at the sight.
"He's quite harmless to my friends," Amos assured Carter. "In the old days, no temple would be complete without a lake full of crocodiles. They are powerful magic creatures."
"Right-" Carter's voice was slow and drawn out, "So the baboon, the crocodile...any other pets I should know about?"
Amos thought for a moment. "Visible ones? No, I think that's it."
"Okay then." Carter nodded slowly, grabbing himself some food.
"Now that we're done with that-" Amos pressed his lips together, "Where to start."
"Our dad," Sadie suggested. "What happened to him?"
Amos took a deep breath. "Julius was attempting to summon a god. Unfortunately, it worked."
"It just didn't go like daddy planned."
Carter gave them a disbelieving look- though Percy noticed that Sadie was watching them carefully, with narrowed eyes. "Any god in particular." and Percy couldn't even blame Carter for the disbelieving tone of his voice, "Or did he just order a generic god."
"An Egyptian one." Percy piped up.
"And there are many Egyptian gods Carter." Amos took a bite from his bagel, "But your father was after one in particular- he's always felt an affinity for him."
"Osiris." Carter breathed out, "When dad was standing in front of the Rosetta stone, he said 'Osiris, come." he shook his head, "But Osiris is a legend. He's make believe."
"I wish that was true." Amos caught Percy's narrow eyed look and he held up a hand. "No offence meant Percy- I know you probably feel differently about the gods- but as I was saying. The Ancient Egyptians were not fools, Carter. They built the pyramids. They created the first great nation state. Their civilization lasted thousands of years."
"Yeah," Carter said quickly "And now they're gone."
Amos shook his head. "A legacy that powerful does not disappear. Next to the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans were babies-"
"Hey!" Percy protested, pouting, "I dunno 'bout the Romans so much but the Greeks were awesome even if they weren't around so long-"
Amos let out a laugh, giving a small shake of his head, "My mistake Percy- I'm sorry for offending you-"
"You should be." Percy huffed, "The Greek gods might not be as old but they have much weirder stories-"
"She is right there." Carter spoke up with a snort, "Dad taught us Greek mythology alongside Egyptian and I always thought that Greek was weirder-"
"Yes, well." Amos sucked in a deep breath, "We are getting side tracked now- I was talking about the Egyptian gods, to be specific- thought yes the Greeks do have a rich and interesting history. In any case, our modern nations like Great Britain and America? Blinks of an eye. The very oldest root of civilization, at least of Western civilization, is Egypt. Look at the pyramid on the dollar bill. Look at the Washington Monument—the world's largest Egyptian obelisk. Egypt is still very much alive. And so, unfortunately, are her gods."
"And so is Greece." Percy added, "But they're not so important right now I guess."
"Not at this point in any case- it will be for the best for us to avoid any Greeks. For now at least-"
"Come on!" Carter blurted out, "You can't actually- I mean even if I believed that there was real magic you can't expect me to believe in ancient gods! You have to be joking right?"
""Carter," Amos said, "the Egyptians would not have been stupid enough to believe in imaginary gods. The beings they described in their myths are very, very real. In the old days, the priests of Egypt would call upon these gods to channel their power and perform great feats. That is the origin of what we now call magic. Like many things, magic was first invented by the Egyptians. Each temple had a branch of magicians called the House of Life. Their magicians were famed throughout the ancient world."
"And you're an Egyptian magician."
Amos nodded. "So was your father. You saw it for yourself last night."
"And Percy." Carter's voice was incredulous, and Percy pouted.
"Did you not see me last night? Of course I am-"
"Percy is rather a special case but yes she is a magician too-"
"But- Dad's just an archaeologist. And why would he tell Percy if he was a magician." and Percy could hear the silent 'why not me?' and Sadie looked like she was wondering the same thing.
"That's his cover story. You'll remember that he specialized in translating ancient spells, which are very difficult to understand unless you work magic yourself. Our family, the Kane family, has been part of the House of Life almost since the beginning. And your mother's family is almost as ancient."
"The Fausts?"
"They had not practiced magic for many generations," Amos admitted. "Not until your mother came along. But yes, a very ancient bloodline."
Sadie shook her head in disbelief. "So now Mum was magic, too. Are you joking?"
"No jokes," Amos promised. "The two of you...you combine the blood of two ancient families, both of which have a long, complicated history with the gods. You are the most powerful Kane children to be born in many centuries."
"And what about Percy?" Sadie asked with a frown, "She's not- I mean no offence but-"
"My mom's bloodline is magical too." Percy piped up, "But she only found out 'cause of me. I'm..."
"Percy is a cross between Greece and Egypt in a way that I have never before encountered." Amos spoke up, "But that is not the important thing at this stage- your father trained her because of the potentially dangerous mixtures of blood running through her veins."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Carter looked defensive and he grabbed Percy's hand.
"My birth dad is a Greek god." Percy stated simply, "So I'm a Demigod as well as being a magician- I have magical blood on both sides but they're different magics and dad was worried about how they'd mix." she'd heard the explanation enough times to know it off by heart."
"What?" Sadie's mouth dropped open, "Oh come on-"
"It's true." Amos' voice was firm, "I was rather shocked when your father told me, but I have no doubts-"
"Which god then?" Sadie snorted, "Is there a god for annoying shorties because-"
"Poseidon." Percy gave a proud grin, "My father is Poseidon-"
"The-" Carter blinked, "The water- was that-"
"It was a mix of magic and my natural control over it." Percy declared proudly, "Dad says I'll outdo any water elementalists."
"I-" Carter swallowed hard, "And mom- Percy and my mom-"
"I believe she's had some training- I don't know how much." Amos spoke calmly.
"You- my parents secretly worship animal-headed gods?"
"Not worshipped," Amos corrected. "By the end of the ancient times, Egyptians had learned that their gods were not to be worshipped. They are powerful beings, primeval forces, but they are not divine in the sense one might think of God. They are created entities, like mortals, only much more powerful. We can respect them, fear them, use their power, or even fight them to keep them under control—"
"Fight gods?" Sadie interrupted. "I mean from what you're saying Percy's mom ba-"
"Sadie!" Carter glared, cutting her off and Sadie rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah, fine, but I mean- fighting. Gods?"
"Constantly," Amos assured her. "But we don't worship them. Thoth taught us that."
"So-" Carter shifted, "Why did dad break the Rosetta Stone?"
"Oh, I'm sure he didn't mean to break it," Amos said. "That would've horrified him. In fact, I imagine my brethren in London have repaired the damage by now. The curators will soon check their vaults and discover that the Rosetta Stone miraculously survived the explosion."
"But it was blown into a million pieces!" Carter gasped "How could they repair it?"
Amos picked up a saucer and threw it onto the stone floor. The saucer shattered instantly.
"That was to destroy," Amos said. "I could've done it by magic—ha-di—but it's simpler just to smash it. And now..." Amos held out his hand. "Join. Hi-nehm."
A blue hieroglyphic symbol burned in the air above his palm. The pieces of the saucer flew into his hand and reassembled like a puzzle, even the smallest bits of dust gluing themselves into place. Amos put the perfect saucer back on the table.
Carter looked dazed, like he didn't want to believe it- while Sadie looked torn between curiosity and awe- clearly she was finding it easier to believe.
"Okay- I have to admit that was cool." she glanced towards Percy. "Can you do that?"
"Uh- usually." Percy shifted slightly, "I'm not even gonna try right now. Using too much magic can be dangerous-"
"Yes it can." Amos gave a stern look, "No asking Percy to show you her magic- what she did last night was very brave, yes, but the body can only handle so much magic- and Percy is still very young. She's very lucky that she didn't burn herself up completely-"
"Burn-" Sadie turned pale. "But- does that mean-"
"It means that Percy could have died using that much power." and the look on Sadie's face when her gaze snapped to Percy was almost frightened- and- there was just a hint of concern there.